For a second she froze, but as his kiss was simply the gentle brushing of lips, she relaxed against him. She felt the strength of his arms about her, warm and protective.
This is how it must be, she thought as he held her close and she slipped her arms round him, feeling his breath on her neck. This is what it means to love and be loved. She had never received a kiss from anyone who was not a relative before; the only man had been her father, who would kiss the top of her head as he wished her goodnight. She had no brothers, no cousins, and until she’d met Nicholas, so tall and handsome, no man had paid her any attention at all. Now here she was, folded into his embrace, her whole being bursting with happiness, and she raised her face to him again, her eyes brilliant with tears of joy.
Nicholas looked down at her. ‘Is that yes, my darling girl?’ he whispered.
‘Oh yes, Nicholas. Oh yes.’ And his second kiss was as gentle as the first.
‘Let’s get married soon,’ he said as he led her to the sofa and sat down at her side, her hand still grasped in his. ‘There’s no reason to wait, darling girl, is there?’
‘No, Nicholas. I long to be your wife,’ Sophie said. ‘But I shall have to tell my grandfather. I believe he is my guardian and will have to give his permission for my marriage while I am still under age.’ She smiled shyly up at Nicholas. ‘I’m sure he won’t refuse it, but if by any chance he should, well, we shall only have to wait until the end of March. I’ll be twenty-one on the twenty-fifth.’
‘I am a professional man; surely he can have no objection,’ said Nicholas.
‘I don’t know,’ Sophie replied. She hesitated, wondering if she should tell him her grandfather had made him her heir, but bit back the words. Hannah had suggested he might be after her fortune and if she didn’t tell him, no one could accuse him of being a fortune-hunter. ‘You know how difficult he can be!’
Nicholas forced a smile. ‘Yes, your aunts have been in despair.’
‘I think...’ Sophie said carefully as she sorted her thought in her mind, ‘I think it would be best if I tell him. I said I might go back and spend Christmas with them at Trescadinnick. If I do that it would be the perfect opportunity to tell him, to tell them all.’ And Charles will know once and for all that there is no question of my marrying him, she thought with quiet satisfaction; but she didn’t say that either. No need to spoil the perfect evening.
Later, having kissed gently her once more, Nicholas took his leave. ‘I’ll come round in the morning to say goodbye,’ he promised.
Returning to the house in Clayton Street, he spent one last enjoyable night of energetic sex with Dolly, and when he got up in the morning he knew a moment of regret that this would probably be for the last time. He certainly wanted no further connection with her, but there was no doubt that she knew how to please a man in bed.
As he crossed the town for his final visit to Hammersmith, he was entirely unaware of the figure still sloping along behind him. Luke had followed him each day and had watched Nicholas squiring Sophie about the town. He knew what she looked like and where she lived. It didn’t look like a rich woman’s house, and she didn’t look like a rich woman, but if Nicholas Bryan was investing so much time and money in her, Luke thought, surely there must be something in it for Dolly and him, and once again he settled down to keep watch.
23
Charles Leroy got off the overnight train at Paddington and walked out into the street. He was at once assailed by the noise of the city; he had forgotten how noisy the capital could be with its thousands of inhabitants rushing about their daily lives. The road in front of him had come to a near standstill; a waggon had lost a wheel and was canted over at the roadside, its load of fruit and vegetables sliding into the street. The shouts and oaths of other drivers mingled with calls of the street vendors, the cries of ragamuffin children escaped from school, who darted fearlessly amid hooves and wheels to snatch apples from the tilting waggon, and the bellows of the waggoner as he tried in vain to stop them.
For a while Charles stood there, appalled at the uproar. How could people live in such a turmoil of sound and bustle? Even Truro, a city he knew well and which he was always glad to leave at the end of a day, was quiet compared with the clamour of London. What on earth am I doing here? he thought as he surveyed the chaotic scene. I must be mad.
He had come because AliceAnne had asked him to. Two months ago such a thing would have been unthinkable. He would have been unlikely to ask what she wanted, let alone listen seriously to her reply. The change, he realized, was due to Sophie’s influence. She had taught him to pay attention to his daughter, to treat her as a real person with likes and dislikes, interests and ideas, rather than a child who should be seen and not heard; his mother’s view. Since Sophie had left Trescadinnick almost three weeks ago, the house had seemed cold and dark, as if someone had quenched a light, leaving only lingering gloom. The music had ceased, there was little laughter and conversation in the dining room was stilted and stiff.
Charles had come to a truce with Thomas, each treating the other with the uneasy courtesy necessary for living under the same roof, and Charles knew how much Thomas missed Sophie. Several times he’d heard him hopefully asking Louisa if there was a letter from his granddaughter. There had been one, announcing her safe arrival in Hammersmith, but since then there had been no word to any of them. Once AliceAnne had also heard him ask and she too had waited with hope as her grandmother looked through the post that had just arrived, before shaking her head and saying, ‘No, I’m sorry, Papa, nothing today.’
‘I wish the stupid girl would write to him,’ Louisa grumbled to Matty when she came to visit her father one afternoon. ‘He really does miss her, and it’s all a storm in a teacup.’
Hardly, Matty thought with some bitterness. You’ve never been told to marry someone you don’t want to! But she didn’t speak her thought aloud. After all, it wasn’t Louisa’s fault that Thomas had tried to force her sisters into marriage. Louisa had been allowed to marry her James and been very happy for the seven years they’d had together before a sudden seizure had carried him off, leaving her a widow with a stepson to bring up. Louisa had never wanted to remarry; she had transferred her devotion from her husband to his son.
Charles had seen how his daughter blossomed under the attention given her by both Sophie and Hannah, and gradually realized how neglected the little girl had been previously. Recognizing it was his fault for leaving her to the care of Mrs Paxton and a strict and elderly grandmother, he started to spend more time with her and was surprised how much he enjoyed her company. It wasn’t a chore, or a tiresome demand on his time, and he began to take pleasure in discovering his AliceAnne. He found he could make her smile and that he loved doing so. Her smile, so reminiscent of Anne’s, always brought an answering one of his own.
He kept his promise and began teaching her to ride Oscar, and to the delight of both of them she was unafraid and learning fast. As the evenings closed in, he would go up and find her in the schoolroom, and there they played the card games Hannah had taught her. But what AliceAnne enjoyed most was to curl up beside him on the old sofa before the schoolroom stove and read with him, turn and turn about, as she had with Sophie.
It was when they were sitting like this one evening that AliceAnne had suddenly asked, ‘Papa, is Aunt Sophie coming back?’
‘I don’t know, AliceAnne,’ Charles replied with a sigh.
‘She said she would at Christmas and it’s nearly Christmas now, isn’t it?’
‘She did, but I’m not sure if she’s going to come after all.’
‘But, Papa, I do miss her...’
‘Yes, I know,’ said her father.
I miss her too, he thought, and realized it was the first time he had admitted this to himself. He missed Sophie in a way that he hadn’t thought possible. He missed her cheerfulness at the breakfast table, a time when previously he had insisted on quiet while he drank his coffee and contemplated his day. He missed her ready wit,
always having an answer, and her refusal to be bullied by anyone, even the indomitable Thomas. He missed seeing her seated at the piano after dinner, the lamplight gleaming on her hair as she played, and the brilliance of her dark green eyes when she glanced up and smiled as he turned her music.
‘And if you could, Hannah would come too, wouldn’t she?’ AliceAnne was saying. ‘I like Hannah.’
‘Of course you do,’ he said, returning his attention to her.
‘So will you?’
‘Will I what?’
‘Will you write to Aunt Sophie and ask her to come at Christmas?’
Thinking about Sophie, Charles had missed the little girl’s question. ‘I’ll think about it,’ he found himself saying. ‘Now, your turn to read.’
Charles did think about it and the more he thought, the less he wanted to write. Supposing Sophie simply ignored his letter. If that happened he wouldn’t even know for sure that she had received it. It would be difficult to explain in a letter how much it would mean to AliceAnne that Sophie should be with them for Christmas. He could tell her that Thomas was missing her and had asked him to write and remind her of her promise, but that, he thought, could well be counterproductive. Sophie, being Sophie, certainly wouldn’t come if she thought she were being ordered to do so.
He thought of discussing the idea with Louisa, but was almost sure she would advise against it. She had been delighted when Sophie had taken herself off, back to London. In the end he went over to Treslyn House to consult Matty.
‘Do you think she would come if I wrote to her?’ he asked his aunt. ‘We didn’t part on good terms.’
‘I don’t think Sophie is one to bear a grudge,’ Matty replied. ‘She was angry at the time, but she may well be regretting the way you parted as much as you do.’
‘Well, I do,’ acknowledged Charles. ‘But the real reason that I’m concerned is because AliceAnne is so disappointed. She was hoping that Sophie would come back for Christmas.’
Matty smiled. ‘Of course it is,’ she agreed. ‘And we must do all we can to make sure AliceAnne isn’t disappointed any more.’
‘So what do you suggest?’ Charles asked when he had explained all the reasons why he was reluctant to write.
‘What do I suggest?’ Matty thought for a moment and then said, ‘I suggest you go up to London and see her.’
‘Go to London?’ Charles was incredulous. ‘How can I go to London?’
‘On a train, Charles?’
‘Yes, well, I know that. What I mean is, why should I go all that way when she may not even let me into her house?’
‘I doubt if Sophie will leave you standing on her doorstep, or shut the door in your face.’
‘But she may not be very pleased to see me, even so.’
‘No, she may not,’ Matty agreed. ‘But you won’t know unless you go, will you? She might just be waiting for a chance to come back herself.’
‘It’ll take at least three days,’ Charles said. ‘I’m not sure I can be away that long.’
Matty laughed. ‘Yes, it will, but I doubt if the estate will fall to pieces without you in that time.’
‘Well, I’ll think about it.’
‘You do that, Charles. But I suggest you don’t leave it too long to decide or you’ll be too late. Now, tell me, how is my father? Is the doctor still pleased with his progress?’
‘We haven’t seen Dr Bryan for several days now,’ Charles replied. ‘But Mama says Grandfather seems to be improving. She says he’s certainly eating more and his colour is healthier. He’s not that chalky-white he’s been recently.’
‘That’s good to hear,’ Matty said. ‘Tell Louisa and Papa that I’ll come over tomorrow for a visit. And what about AliceAnne? How’s she getting on with her riding?’
There was no further mention of a visit to London to see Sophie, and Charles had returned from his visit to Matty with his thoughts in turmoil. When he went up to say goodnight to AliceAnne that evening she asked him if he had written to Sophie.
‘No, I haven’t,’ he replied, ‘but I’m going up to London to ask her to come. All right?’
He was rewarded with a hug and a beaming smile. ‘Oh, Papa, are you? I know she’ll come if you ask her!’ Charles was not so sure, but his decision had been made and he returned AliceAnne’s hug.
Louisa was not in favour of the visit. ‘Why you want her to come back here, even for a short visit, I can’t imagine,’ she said. ‘She’s just like her mother, nothing but trouble!’
Thomas, however, was delighted he was going. ‘Good idea. Sort out the trouble between you and bring her back. When do you leave?’
‘In a couple of days,’ Charles answered. ‘There is business I have to settle here first.’
When Matty arrived on her visit the next day and heard that Charles was indeed going to London to see Sophie, she took him to one side and said, ‘If it makes it easier for her to come and stay with me, rather than back at Trescadinnick, tell her she’ll be more than welcome.’
Charles had promised to do so and now here he was, braving the London streets, looking for a hansom to take him out to Hammersmith. He walked up the road until he found a cab and having given the cabby the address, settled back, trying to compose his thoughts and wondering just what sort of welcome awaited him.
When the driver set him down, Charles looked up at the house where Sophie lived and had spent her childhood. It was one of a terrace, three storeys high, set back a little from the road behind a low stone wall. Its tiny front garden was winter-bare but neat and tidy. He walked up the path to the green-painted front door with its shining brass knocker and drawing a deep breath, knocked on the door.
It was not Hannah who answered, as Charles had expected her to, but Sophie, flushed and bright-eyed. The words of welcome that had been on her lips died as she saw who stood on her doorstep. ‘Oh, Charles,’ was all she said.
‘Hallo, Sophie.’
For a moment they looked at each other and then Charles said, ‘May I come in?’
Sophie stood aside at once and said, ‘Yes, of course. I’m sorry, it’s just I was so surprised to see you.’
Charles stepped into the house, saying, ‘You were expecting someone else.’ It wasn’t a question, it had been quite clear from her reaction to seeing him there.
‘Yes, well, a friend said he might call.’ Turning, she called back into the house, ‘Hannah, come and see who’s here.’
Charles had noticed the word ‘he’ and wondered who this friend might be, someone whom Sophie had been ready to greet with such a heart-stopping smile.
Hannah emerged from the kitchen and seeing Charles still standing in the hall smiled her welcome. ‘Mr Charles,’ she said, ‘this is a surprise. Miss Sophie didn’t tell me you was coming.’
‘Miss Sophie didn’t know,’ said Sophie. ‘It’s a surprise to me as well.’
‘Well, don’t leave him standing in the hallway, Miss Sophie. Let me take your coat and hat, sir. Now, you take Mr Charles into the parlour, Miss Sophie, and I’ll bring in some tea.’
Sophie led Charles into the parlour, a small but cosy room, brightened by a wintry sun pouring in through windows that looked out onto the street and the cheerful fire burning brightly in the grate.
‘Do sit down, Charles,’ Sophie said, waving a hand towards one of the fireside chairs and moving to take the other. ‘And tell me why you’re here. Has something happened to my grandfather?’
‘No, no,’ Charles assured her. ‘Indeed, he seems to be making a recovery. My mother is very pleased with him. The doctor hasn’t been to see him for nearly two weeks now.’
‘I see,’ said Sophie, wondering whether to tell him why, but deciding against. ‘Well, that’s good news, isn’t it? So why have you come, Charles?’ Her voice was calm, almost indifferent.
‘I came because AliceAnne wanted me to.’
‘AliceAnne!’ That did provoke a reaction.
‘She misses you very much, Sophie, and she asked me t
o write to see if you were coming to Trescadinnick for Christmas as she hopes.’
‘So, why didn’t you?’
Charles sighed. Sophie wasn’t making it easy for him, but he had come this far and he persevered. ‘Because we parted on such bad terms, Sophie. I wanted to apologize for what I said to you. It was said in the heat of the moment, but it was unforgiveable.’
‘Yes, it was,’ agreed Sophie, but then she smiled ruefully. ‘But I answered you in kind, so the fault is as much mine as yours.’
‘I needed to see you, face to face,’ Charles said. ‘A letter wouldn’t have been enough.’
‘Well, here you are,’ Sophie said. ‘It was generous of you to come so far.’
At that moment Hannah came into the room with a tea tray and a plate of cakes. She set it down on the table and then said, ‘And how is everyone at Trescadinnick, Mr Charles? They are all keeping well, I hope.’
‘Yes, thank you, Hannah,’ answered Charles. ‘And I’m hoping you’ll be coming to see for yourself very soon. I’m here to ask Sophie to come back for the Christmas season. Everyone misses her, but my grandfather and AliceAnne in particular.’ He turned back to Sophie. ‘I do hope you’ll come, cousin,’ he said. ‘Your Aunt Matty has invited you to stay with her if you’d find that more convenient.’
‘That’s kind of her,’ Sophie said, ‘but—’ She broke off as there was a loud knocking on the door.
Hannah went to answer it, but Sophie stood up too, her face bright with expectation.
Charles heard a man’s voice in the hall, and then the door swung open and Nicholas Bryan strode into the room. Sophie greeted him with outstretched hands and as he took them in his own, his eyes met Charles’s startled gaze and narrowed in a smile. Releasing one of Sophie’s hands, he led her back to her chair by the other before saying, ‘Good morning, Mr Leroy. What a surprise to find you here.’
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